A former co-worker of mine passed away recently and as I drove back from the visitation at the funeral home, I didn’t take the four-lane route but took the long way up the valley. I wanted to take my time, pray and enjoy the wonders of Gods creation. And, as usual when I’m driving, God began to show me some things, From the Mind of the Master.
I noticed the trees on the mountain side and one tree in particular along the road, it looked like it was dead. No green leaves, no signs of life, just standing there beside the road…looking dead. But I know that’s not the case. Even though it looks dead, there is life inside it. So, how does this pertain to our lives? What is the message God wants to get to us?
“And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons,” (Genesis 1:14). Just like there are seasons for trees and plants, there are seasons for God’s most treasured creation…man, us. Just as a tree goes through its seasons, so do we. Just as a tree may look dead, it has life inside, and so do we. Just as a tree endures cold, heat, storms and wind, God takes care of it and so He does for us. What season are you in now?
In September of 2016, my mother was moved into a long-term care facility. As I came home from a visit one day, I noticed a partially brown leaf that had fallen from the tree next to my driveway. I picked it up and looked at it. God reminded me that it had budded in the Spring, grew to its fullness in Summer providing shade and benefits for other plants and animals and the atmosphere through photosynthesis. In the Fall, the leaf nears the end of its life and falls to the ground, seemingly done with its purpose. But…as it decomposes, it provides nutrients to the soil, and my garden, during the Winter. But that’s the end of the leaf, it has served its created purpose. But God showed me that it’s not like that for people. Sure, we go through seasons of life; beginning as a helpless baby, growing during youth and learning in midlife beginning to realize and achieve our mission, entering adulthood and hopefully continuing with our God-given purpose. But then there is, “a time to be born and a time to die,” (Ecclesiastes 3:2). Yes, there is a time allotted to each of us to die. But, unlike that leaf who had completed its purpose through its seasons, when we die and go back into the ground, and if we have accepted Jesus, our new life, our new season is only beginning! It’s not over for us, we have a home in Heaven and eternal life with the Father. No more seasons.
When the Spring season comes for that tree, the signs of life will again begin to appear. Buds, leaves, beautiful green colors. God has planned it that way and He sustains the tree for its life. God will sustain us too in every season of our lives. God is with us all the way, (Joshua 1:5), and He will carry us through our seasons. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). A time for every purpose and a purpose for every season. So, whatever season you’re in now, know that God is with you and He has a purpose. Trust Him, believe and you will make it through.